5 Things You Can Expect from Your First Detox

I first learned about detoxes on Instagram. I saw a post promoting detox teas with the promise of rapid weight loss. Now, if you want away with only one thing from this post, I hope it is the understanding that weight loss takes time and hard work. The detox teas I saw online also promised to clean your organs of toxins. Let me explain why this happens. If you stop eating solid food for a few days and focus on non-sugary drinks, your body by design will get rid of the pounds. These same pounds will come back as soon as you get back to old eating habits.

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What is a Detox

Strawberry and cucumber salad prepared for the IAHF January Detox Challenge.

According to Google, Detox is as “a process or period in which one abstains from or rids the body of toxic or unhealthy substances; detoxification.”

While there is an infinite number of detoxes, today we will focus on food detoxes. What we eat determines how hard our organs must work to break down foods. A lot of people, I included, use detoxes to reset after eating unhealthy.

For example, if you eat a lot of processed foods, like cheese, cereals, meats like bacon, “convenience foods,” such as microwave meals or ready meals, and bread, your body is likely to work harder in comparison to someone who eats mainly fruits and vegetables to break down these foods. Non-processed foods are easier and faster to digest. Some foods might not seem harmful like canned foods, but they can hide a lot of sodium, sugar, and fats, which are never good.

What Should You Expect

I like to detox at the beginning of the month, and thought this would be the perfect time to share five things You can expect from your first detox. Before we get started, I should say that there are a lot of ways to detox. My preferred method is going plant base.

Feeling Healthier

Detoxes help your organs work properly by removing toxic foods from your diet. Our bodies do not need us to get rid of the toxins; our bodies need us to get out of the way. We detox because we feel bloated, heavy, maybe we aren’t going to the bathroom enough, and detoxing helps alleviate these issues. Once we start removing foods that are unhealthy, you will feel lighter and energized. Food should not make you want to take a nap; it should nourish you.

Faster Food Breakdown

Detoxes help our bodies use less energy to break down foods which make them work better. Is like when you are overworked at your job, vs. when you have a manageable workload. When we are very busy, somethings things do not get done. The same applies to your body, if your organs are too busy breaking down processes foods, they won’t be able to break down everything you eat as fast. Some foods will have to wait and sit until your body gets to them.

Getting Adventurous

One of my favorite parts of detoxing is trying new fruits and vegetables. Going plant base forces, you to try new recipes, become more creative and be more open minded about the foods you put in your body. That’s how I discovered purple potatoes and butternut squash, which I love. The healthier the foods you easier it is for your body to get rid of the toxins.

Eating All Day Long

You will be able to eat healthy foods all day long. A plant base detox gives you the flexibility to eat as much as you want if you are eating fresh foods and you are prepping them properly. If you are the type of people who hates the starving feeling, a plant base detox is a way to go. I love food way too much to voluntarily starve myself, which is why I am not a fan of detox teas. Cleansing your body shouldn’t turn you into a Hangry Monster.

Mango chia pudding, prepared for the IAHF January Detox Challenge.

Learning about your body

My first plant base detox taught me a lot about myself. I learned that I was not drinking enough water, did not eat enough vegetables and that I was drinking too many sugary drinks. Through my detox, not only did I identify problem areas, I began fixing them. This type of detox helped me become more disciplined by teaching me how foods made me feel. Detoxing taught me that I could live off vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. In April I will be hosting a 7-day detox challenge to kick off the new quarter. Sign up to learn more information and join the fun. I am talking free recipes, free meal plans, and more.

Have you ever done a detox? What method did you use? Did you try teas or water? Did you feel like you were hungry all the time? Or did you feel satisfied and energetic? I would love to know your thoughts. Leave me a note in the comments section.